Newport

Newport's population increased by about 8,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Newport increased by 6.4%, from just over 137,000 to 146,000.

The addition of about 8,700 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Newport was home to, on average, 5.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Wales' second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Newport

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Newport increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than Bolton (one of the most statistically similar areas to Newport based on ONS area classifications) (38 years of age) and the second-lowest average age in Wales.

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 4,500 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 13.0% of people in Newport are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Monmouthshire and Newport by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Welsh language in Newport

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Newport fell from 9.6% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 394 more people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 7,635.

In Monmouthshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Newport), 9.9% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, up from 9.0% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 20.5% to 19.0%.

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Newport saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14.0%) households in Newport rented privately, compared with 5.4% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 21.5% to 19.8%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of privately rented homes occurred in Cardiff (from 11.1% to 21.9%).

Private renting in Newport increased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newport, Monmouthshire and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Newport

In 2011, 5.5% of Newport residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 2.8% in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.1% to 2.3%.

Around 89.9% of people in Newport said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.2% in 2001. About 1.9% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.5% to 1.7%.

the population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Newport increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Monmouthshire and Newport by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Newport, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Ceredigion.

Across Wales, the proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased from 7.5% to 9.7% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Monmouthshire increased from 6.8% to 8.9%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households in Newport had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.7% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person increased from 28.4% to 30.8%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple occurred in Ceredigion (from 7.9% to 9.1%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changing relationships in Newport

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased in Newport, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil.

During this period, Newport overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12.3%) people aged 16 and over in Newport said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11.5% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 51.9% to 45.9%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner occurred in Cardiff (from 10.0% to 10.3%) followed by Merthyr Tydfil (from 11.1% to 11.8%).

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Religion in Newport

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Newport was among those who said they had no religion, rising 13.0 points.

In 2011, 29.7% of respondents in Newport gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 16.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Wales, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.1%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newport, 56.9% said they were Christian, compared with 71.9% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.1% to 7.5%.

In Newport, 7.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.1% in 2001. In Wales, 7.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 8.1% in 2001. Across England, 7.6% of people did not answer, compared with 8.1% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Newport increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in Wales, Monmouthshire and Newport by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Newport residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12.0% to 7.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65.4% in 2001. The percentage of Newport residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.6% to 14.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell faster here than in nearby Monmouthshire (which remained close 5.9%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12.5% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Newport decreased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Newport, Monmouthshire and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Newport residents that were unemployed increased from 3.9% to 5.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51.3% in 2001. The percentage of Newport residents that were self-employed increased from 5.5% to 6.6%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to nearby Monmouthshire (which remained close 3.4%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 3.5% to 4.3%.

The rate of unemployment in Newport increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Newport, Monmouthshire and Wales that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Newport working less than 16 hours increased from 1.6% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 12 (8.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to nearby Monmouthshire (which remained close 3.0%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 1.7% to 3.0%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newport increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newport, Monmouthshire and Wales that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Newport with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.3% to 10.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.0%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Newport without children increased from 57.8% to 58.8%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to nearby Monmouthshire (which remained close 10.1%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 10.2% to 10.7%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Newport

The percentage of Newport residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.3% to 4.8% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.9%, while the percentage of Newport residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.6%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to nearby Monmouthshire (which remained close 4.4%). Across Wales, the proportion increased from 4.6% to 5.2%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links